Avalanche warnings after record snowfalls

Skiers are being warned to exercise caution after the massive snowfalls over the past two weeks led to a series of avalanches across the Alps. Already this month, four people have died and eight have been seriously injured.

One Briton has already had a lucky escape. Mark Wilkinson, the manager of the Surefoot boot shop in Val d'Isère, was in his lounge watching TV at midnight on Monday when an avalanche blasted through patio doors into his bedroom. "The double bed was pushed across the room," he says. "I'm just glad I didn't have an early night."

Resort managers fear this weekend, which is due to be sunny, could prove deadly as skiers head out for the first time after a long period of storms to make the most of the best early season conditions since 1974.